Knuckle joint



Jan. 18, 1949.

c. c. BROWN f KNUCKLE OINT Filed oct. `13, 1947 C. C. BROWN IN V EN TOR.

' FIG. 3

lax.,

FIG. 2

A FIG. l

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 18,: 1949 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE v 2,459,614 JoIN'r l (vlcero CfBi-own, Houston, Tex. E Application october. 13, 1947, serial No. 779,576

, 1 Y This invention relates to knuckle jointsV and particularly to knuckle joints of the typeused in fishing Ist rings employed in connection with rotary well drilling.

Knuckle joints .are employed top rovide a pivoted section in a fishing string to which suito able 'iishing tools may be attached and' which, because of its pivoted construction, permits the fishing tools to be rotated at an angle to the axis of the borehole in order `to catch or. pick up broken tools or the broken end of a. pipeistring which have fallen to one side of thebore hole and particularly incavities alongthe bore hole.

Aprincipal obj ectof the present inventionis to provide a form of knuckle joint of relatively rsimple` .constructio'n, which 1s elcient inoperation.

An important object is the provisionof an im. proved form of Vknuckle joint employing iluid pressure to actuate the pivot arm'of the joint for angular movement with respect. tothe fishing string.

A more speciiic object is the provisionof a knuckle joint having a wash pipe extending therethrough which isV provided with' a ,exible section between the pivot arm and the stationary memberof the joint.

f Other and more specic objects andf'advantages o f this invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one useful embodimentof a knuckle jointin accordance with this invention.A `Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is aV longitudinal sectionalview of an bodiment in accordance lwith this invention showj-4 ing the pivot arm'in itsretracted position;

' 'Fi'gJZ isayiew similar to Fig. l in' whichthej pivot armis shown Ain' its'knuckled orangular position; vj 1 f Fig. 3` is a cross-'sectional detail of the tool taken along line3-3 of Figkfl;

-Fig. 4 is al cross-sectional detail ofl the tool taken along line 4-4 of Figfl; and

Fig 5 is aview' illustrating the position of member I3 threaded externally atkitsuppe'r endy is screwed into the open vlower end of casing I'Il and is provided with an axial passageway Il of s claims. (C1. 2854-93) lrestricted cross-sectional area, which is'outwa'rd- 1y flared on one 4side thereof at its lower end as indicated at I5. Passageway I4 is enlarged in diameter at its upper end to form a spring-receiving recess I6, in which is seated a coil spring I1. Mounted in the upper portion of the inte-l rior of casing I above closure I3 is a piston I8, having a plurality of sealing rings I9 suitably mounted in its periphery to form a fluid-tight sliding connection with the wall of casing I0. Piston I8 is provided with axial passageway 20, which registers with passageway I4 and having atits'upper end a choke 2| of conventional form. An arm 22 is removably mounted at one Iside of piston I8 by means of a dovetail tongue 23, which is slidably receivable in a complementary groove 24 in the side of the piston. Arm 22 extends longitudinally from piston I8 inside of the wall of casing I0 through a suitable slot 25 in the outer wall of closure I3 (Fig. 4). Arm 22 thus being slidable longitudinally of slot 25 in response to the movements of piston I8. C'oil spring I1, mounted in recess I6, is held in compression between the lower end of pis-ton I8 and closure I3. The lower end of closure I3 is provided `with a pair of laterally `spaced arms 2S (see Fig. 3, particularly) forming a clevis or yoke into which a tongue 21o, formed on the upper end of a pivot arm 21, extends and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 28 which extends transversely through suitable registering openings in arms 26 and tongue 21a, whereby pivot arm 21 may turn at an angle relative `to the longitudinal axis of the tool. Pivot arm 21 is u provided with an axial passageway 29 registering with passageway I4 and pivot pin 28 is likewise provided with a passageway 30 registering with passageways 29 and I4. The upper end of passageway 29 is ared outwardly at 3l at one side thereof opposite flared portion I5 of passageway I4. The upper end of tongue 21a. is provided at one side thereof with an inwardly and downv wardly sloping cam surface 32 which cooperates with the outer end of arm 32 which is rounded tool in a'wellas employed in conducting; aiisli-f- 45 for relatively smooth sliding engagement with cam surface 32. The upper end surface of tongue 21a.` is machined off on the side opposite cam surface 32 to form a downwardly sloping surface 3l, so that tongue 21a will not bind on the lower end of closure I3 when pivot arm 21 is rotated about pivot pin 28. The lower end of pivot arm 21 is provided with the conventional externally threaded tool joint pin All for connection to a suitable iishing tool, passageway 29 extend ing through pin 40'.

the interiorqfg casing I0, above piston I8. By,-

virtue ofi` this connection and the difference -irr diameters of the wash pipe and the passageways,

the Wash pipe will be sldable longitudinally ofi-` the registering passageways in response tqrthe movements of piston I8. Lower section 38 ofthe Wash pipe is mounted in passageway-29 andreXn-r tends through passageway 3.0ofpiyot,pin,'28,an d, l

through the lower end of the pivot arm.v Upper and lower sections and 38 of the wash pipa-are.,-

connected together by section 3l' which is con* Sifiieiedfe Iieiiiiiie mdieiialneh, dsfrnbheri nih-- heri ed fabric4 or exible..me;t al such,`as..c.cpper iii-.binez vvifiiei'ebywhen:nir-et arm 2? is, knueisled; the. flexible jointt thus provided.- inrihewashi nine. iniilnerniit Sueh movement Without breaking. or otherwise. dama-sine dienden pine... 'Sanering Seetions.. I5..` and.: 3l, of. the,l ifii'issiieewes/S.5 in.. the. linden-le members provide an area. which .the bending; movement-1 if fiexiblle-Seetion 3,1., max-take piace without danger 0f.L pinching er. breaking., the pipe. asis illustrated.; nariieulai'ly in. 1.ii;-2 .2.=. Siuiiabiefpdeleins, sneh T as, Owings-.- SBiisfniOu-nted between theeiiffiiior` of; section. 33: of. thewash nire.: and.r Reseeeeway. Edi-td. fenna; fliiidziiglii Seed therebetween enter. endeti seetidn. i3d; di, the.Wdehpineisdprovided Withastenrineen nnte'. which is.l loeked. thereto by meane- Qf d` Sei. Sereni? dndserves iefiiinii anyfiendeneyei ille-,wesh :pipe te befdrdivn e1," femediofany uridine extentinto-theinteriorof theetool. n

Tliedbeve-described 1ennelilev Jdin-tisemnleyed iniilieffoilewing Ben 2g-.ie ednneeied; id.ilieleweil end. ef; aninefsirine-4die. 12; such ds..e.dr.i11.\1ii.ee. String: 0.1' e-..fishing..siiine,. dnd ein lill; is connected to,` a. suitable: shingtool such as walk-hook. Mwhich isfccnventignally employed forA grasping.. the nppenend di arbrdkenpipe 45. which fallen to onesideoia cavity d fin4 a, melloreldjdnthe mannen illustrated.. When. the suina 0i weis including; the.-k.nnels.1.e-.icint is, inserted A initially n,the-well bore theknulle; 19in-tonni. kb-e in inenten/isili en reir-deind.position;l ill-undated .-,inyFiia l... Willenftheieelsihevebeen 'ldwei-.iedie-iiie-desired-reinemihewelhiinidasuehf de.l interv 01" fdiilliner Inndywilibefnnm d rinithe ednveniienal: meinnendewn theintenen 0i the Strineidndinrenen iheiiniielsle Joint puede. the; eneirneiien.. nnwided.n ley-4 elidke 2.1i e... he eensilieiedered-.ef.nnsseeewi129'; fluid nressnre will Tdei/elim inside .Casina lil` and. veillent en .the

fenefei., pidieni.. iedereen dewnwardl The outer-end oiarm 2 2 willthereupiopgc tywith eainsnrfaee v3.2. ie Cause. nivoterrnl ie.knii.el le dein-.indien vSingle .about ,piveipin iandessume the positionshown in Figs.v 2 and 4,4 ATl 1 e. .waslr ninewilliikewise. nieve eeriespendinelyl.lengitus. i ally. of. registering. passdgewdys.. |4,. afnd# and.. derible., Section.. 3J. will.. bendfin respdnse. to. the iiilnina Ginn/ei drm., witnentlin.. any1 Way.. intefrurztinel er.. hindering the.`V flew 0i.`"1ldidf iinenshline-wasn Dine dnd wiiiient..in.t.enering. with .i isnnelsline..ingredientidi; niiet., 2l! 'Ih nesiirine. indy.l berreiaied-i.whileiiuid eiifeulaiien is. .maintained .inrduehtheewash piper to cause the fishing tool 4 sweep in a circular path about the wall of the Well bore or through any cavity which may be present, thereby enabling the fishing tool to grasp or hook on to any object which may be lying to one side of the axis of the well bore. When the object sought has been grasped, rotation of the iishing string and pumping of the uid is stopped to relieve the pressure on the knuckle joint. Coil spring I1 will expand, causing the piston--andgitseattached arm'jttoretracI-and pivot 2'I 'willl return to itsforigfinalfA axiallyaaligned position, either of its own weight or by virtue of the weight of the connected shing tools and .cbjectstgrasped thereby.

One of the particular advantages of the knuckle J'Qilii-,nyaccprdance with this invention arises from the novel arrangement whereby section 38 'off' tl1'e"wa,s'li`J pipe is extended through pivot pin 2li,y -Wgith this arrangement, section 38 forms a Very simple and efficient lock for the pivot pin whieliessures. its. retenticn. in ,plaee in.. ille. iplni. des-nite. the hammering. and; battering... to... which. are; n drnialiysnbiected. thus.. apriete' ing one ofthe principaldifliculties withtexistingf. designsefnuelile mints.

The eeniinnoiis, unbroken.. wash.. pige. arrange.- ineni. 0f; the herein-described*structure,with the pmvislienof. sea'linerinse laebeut. the ypieten.and sealing' ringsl 39- between. wasn pipe. section. t dndpassagewax Risen/este keep the washrliquid' out; o'f Contact' With 'the moving., Parts. cf.. the. knucklen j pint, and therelviy/A QuelCOmeS the. erpsiye eiieet efeenventidnel drilling. iiuidps. iii-existing. ferme Qfiieints'in. which. because. or'theiredn-k struction, the fluid?. is. nermdlln allowed. to. non at'iitsusual' highv elocityI over andabout thejnow ingy'surfaces o i'thefjpints, therebygreatlx shorteninetheir. usefullife -andeliieienen ltzwillbe, understoodjthatjthe length ofpivotl arm, 2j maybe'. varied" as required and"I other changes andi-modficationsmay be made iny the detailsV of the embodiment, herein -descri'bedwithout; departing5'fromV the; scope o f` the apgzgeniegi;v claims but within the spirit', off this.. .inventionr What I- claim anddesiire; to secure-by Letters Patentis:V y

1 A knuckle joint. comprising@ nail'. -oftaxiallr alignedknucklew members, a pivot; pin extending` through e.di..deeilitpprtieiis'.of'saidLriieinbers.transe` verseiy @if the. axis.. thereof.' te. Hermit angular movement therebetween... a piston reeiproabm disposed in.. ene-@saldiknuckleniembers ,cana-i' ing a thrust member engageabl..wtirtheeother 0i, said. isnnelelemembers for. rokng.,.tha latter ebeliisaidnivet pin, .aniuciqcuduit having, one: end'rieidlm eenneetedtcsaidfpiston end...extende ingr-ihrdushisaid knuckle.ineix1leers-.andsaidzulretV ein.dndmdvalzleeexiallrforisaidisnuelsleemembsrs in response to the movements of'said pistcmsgidi edndnihineludina. ai., flexible section extendingacross the ad'jacentends.o5Sayid;lcriuclleg:mana bers,- dipassageway di.: restricted.. crpssfsectimal area through Said,T ipisienfedmmunieaiina" with andi meansefe. ffadmittinsfgpgessure duid., infie.4 thee knuckle. member contamina.: snide piston.

2,. Atknnekle .feint compri-Sina,.epairfotaxially aligned.knucklemembersi a pivot pin fextendinsi .rough 'endian..entJ parisiensx of... said: rneniberar Yersely;diihenxisfihereeffto nermitaniden inentihereldetweera registeringrpassesewarsextending iusidlly..V ihmngh., s.ai.d. members.; anni illrciisliaid. pirehpin.; ainistonehayinsgan-iaxial ff' restricted.; ercsseseetional; areal theres reeincdeeblr; disposed; inl. one; of.;` said;

knuckle members and carrying a thrust member engageable with the otlnei` of said knuckle menibers for rocking the latter about said pivot pin, a uid conduit extending through said registering passageways having one end rigidly connected to said piston in communication with said axial bore and slidable in said passageways in response to the movements of said piston, said conduit including a flexible section extending across the adjacent ends of said knuckle members, sealing means between said piston and the wall of its containing knuckle member and between said conduit and said passageway in the other of said members, and means for admitting actuating -uid into the knuckle member containing said piston.

3. A knuckle joint, comprising, a hollow stationary member, a movable member axially aligned therewith, a closure for the end of said stationary member adjacent said movable member, a pivot pin extending through adjacent portions of said closure and said movable member transversely of the axis thereof to permit angular movement therebetween, a piston having an axial bore of restricted cross-sectional area therethrough reciprocably disposed in said stationary member, spring means mounted between said closure and said piston to normally urge the latter away from said closure, a thrust arm carried by said piston and slidably extending through said closure into engagement with a cooperating cam surface disposed on the adjacent end of said movable member for rocking thek latter about said pivot pin, registering passageways extending axially through said closure member, said movable member-and said pivot pin, a fluid conduit extending through said registering passageways having one end rigidly connected to said piston in communication with said axial bore and slidable in said passageways in response to the movements of said piston, said conduit includinga exible section extending across the adjacent ends of said closure-member and said movable member, sealing means between said piston and the wall of said stationary member, and between said conduit and said movable member, and means for admitting fluid into said stationary member for actuating said piston.

4. A knuckle joint, comprising, a pair of axially aligned knuckle members connected for relative angular movement, fluid pressure actuated means arranged between said knuckle members for effecting said angular movement, and a fluid `conduit extending through both said knuckle members and slidable therein during said angular movement, said conduit including` a flexible section extending across the adjacent ends of said knuckle members.

5. A knuckle joint, comprising, a pair of axially aligned knuckle members, a pivot pin connecting said knuckle members for relative angular movement, fluid pressure actuated means arranged between said knuckle members for effecting said angular movement, and a fluid conduit extending axially through said knuckle members and through said pivot pin and slidable therein during said angular movement, said conduit including a flexible section extending across the adjacent ends of said knuckle members and a rigid section extending through said pivot pin.

6. A knuckle joint, comprising, a pair of axially aligned knuckle members connected for relative angular movement, uid pressure actuated means arranged between said knuckle members for effecting said angular movement, a uid conduit extending through both said knuckle members and slidable therein during said angular movement, said conduit including a iiexible section extending across the adjacent ends of said knuckle members, and a fluid tight seal disposed between said conduit and one of said knuckle members.

CICERO C. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nl@ of this patent:

Lowrey Nov. 9, 1943 

